How to translate text using browser tools
1 November 2005 DIFFERENCES IN THE SIZE AT MATURITY OF FEMALE AMERICAN LOBSTERS, HOMARUS AMERICANUS, CAPTURED THROUGHOUT THE RANGE OF THE OFFSHORE FISHERY
Susan A. Little, Winsor H. Watson
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether female American lobsters (Homarus americanus) inhabiting different offshore areas reached sexual maturity at different sizes. We determined the sexual maturity of 734 lobsters captured in three different offshore locations (North: Georges Bank and offshore Gulf of Maine; Middle: southern New England shelf and slope and; South: offshore Rhode Island to New Jersey) using a combination of methods including abdominal width : carapace length ratios, cement gland examination, and ovarian staging. Lobsters that experienced the most degree-days > 8°C (dd) reached sexual maturity at smaller sizes. The size at which 50 percent of the lobsters were mature was 79 mm CL for the South (annual dd = 808), 82 mm CL for the Middle (999 dd), and 92 mm CL for the North (234 dd). This regional difference in size at maturity was also manifested in the average size, and range of sizes, of berried females captured in each location. These data will likely be of use when developing appropriate regulations for managing the offshore fishery.

Susan A. Little and Winsor H. Watson "DIFFERENCES IN THE SIZE AT MATURITY OF FEMALE AMERICAN LOBSTERS, HOMARUS AMERICANUS, CAPTURED THROUGHOUT THE RANGE OF THE OFFSHORE FISHERY," Journal of Crustacean Biology 25(4), 585-592, (1 November 2005). https://doi.org/10.1651/C-2552.1
Received: 13 September 2004; Accepted: 1 April 2005; Published: 1 November 2005
JOURNAL ARTICLE
8 PAGES

This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
+ SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top